Unit 3, Revolution and Early Republic.

Key concepts.

3.1 Causes: British attempts to assert tighter control over its North
American colonies and the colonial resolve to pursue self-government
led to a colonial independence movement and the Revolutionary War.

Themes:
NAT: How ideas about democracy, freedom and individualism found expression in
American political identity.

POL: How popular movements and activist groups sought to change American society
and institutions.

WOR: How competition and conflict btw nations influenced developments in North
America.

Seven Years War

Examples of British policy: See colonial taxes list

My background notes about British system of taxation and debt

sophisticated tax system
own bureaucrats as tax collectors.
debt no longer king’s personal debt
Bank of England--charter 1694
arranging govt loans,
issuing bonds that could be bought and sold
Result: British can liquefy wealth easily, wage wars with richer and more populous
nations (eg France), economy growing...
British debt
16.3 million pounds in 1700 to 131 million pounds in 1763 (a family at the time could
live on 100 pounds a year-1000 pounds made one very rich)
debt service = 60 % of the government’s budget for
 British subjects taxed at a higher rate than average American (26-1 shilling).
Customs officials in North Am collecting ¼ the cost of collecting (Corruption)

Popular movements? Stamp Act Congress, Committees of Correspondence, Sons

(Daughters) of Liberty (Edenton Tea Ladies),

Key concept 3.1 (causes) the colonial resolve to pursue self-government

led to a colonial independence movement and the Revolutionary War.

NAT IDENTITY: ideas about democracy, freedom, etc.

Colonists’ belief in superiority of republican ideals and natural rights

Awareness of inequality, calls for the abolition of slavery

Evidence:
Continental Congress, Common Sense, Declaration of Independence

CCOT: compared to the Stamp Act Congress, which asserted English rights, DoI asserts natural
rights
context: influence of the new VA Constitution

African Americans (1/5 of the colonists) and the Rev...what is the wise choice for them, Patriot
or Loyalist?

New Nation.
3.2 The American Revolution’s democratic and republican ideals
inspired new experiments with different forms of government.

How radical was the Revolution?

Evidence of changes...
Political: colonies (almost states): new constitutions, expanding the franchise, more
widely diffused political power
Republican government
Separation of church/state (but still limitations of practice of non-Protestant religions)

Diplomatic: First Nations! More limited possibilities for freedom and participation;
more pressure on First Nations’ land by US white settlers

Social: white indentured servitude fading out (replaced by “free labor”

Black indentured servitude as part of gradual abolition (gradual = VERY slow)

gender/family structure: “Republican motherhood ideal” meant women needed some

education to educate sons for citizenship
Family ideals more companionate? (see family portraits)

Crises of the early Republic.

POL: Debates fostered by social and political groups about the role of government in
American social, political, and economic life shape government policy, institutions,
political parties, and the rights of citizens.

The Articles of Confederation unified the newly independent states, creating a central
government with limited power. After the Revolution, difficulties over international trade,
finances, interstate commerce, foreign relations, and internal unrest led to calls for a stronger
central government.

Problems with the Articles, summarized

Provisions of the Articles?

● Unanimous consent for amendment,
● claims to west,
● national government could not raise money or create national trade policy
● could conduct foreign affairs, regulate trade with Indians and value coinage,
● organized western lands (NW Ordinance), method of admitting new states

Issues confronting the new govt.

Foreign policy:
Barbary Pirates (Algeria)
 ● Holding US citizens for ransom (ships too)
● US: no navy, no longer linked with Britain, no $ to pay ransom, no $ or authority to build
navy
Treaty of Paris enforcement:
Congress ratified, indiv states didn’t. Indiv states objected and did not uphold provisions.. This
allowed British to not honor parts of their commitment.
● provisions regarding Loyalist rights and property
● provisions regarding pre-war debt payments
● provisions regarding British plan to vacate Western forts

Economic Policy:
Debtors v. creditors
● changes in money supply after the war: specie gone to pay debts, paper money worthless
● taxes had to go up
● Many farmers were creditors of state govts, but also debtors
● Squeeze on farmers: less money for their crops, more taxes, need to pay debts, loans hard to
get (private lenders, not banks, mostly)
● Foreclosures increased
● Political conflict: debtors vs creditors debtors wanted paper money printed (with more
money in circulation they could more easily GET money, pay, etc.)

Both economic AND foreign:

National debt:
● foreign debt has to be paid in specie; how to raise? States refused import duty
● Domestic debtors paid in certificates: how should they be repaid (bought by speculators)

Western Lands: inter-state problems

Multiple states claim the same Western Lands AND American Indians occupy and claim them too
Settlers moving into W lands (freedom)
How to resolve?

Shays Rebellion, background

Economic context--postwar Depression, credit squeeze,
trade with Eng: they will only take hard currency and block US trade with colonies in W Indies
Britain floods US market with cheap imports, hurting artisans
Merchants pass on to customers
Governments charge taxes to pay for the war and they want these paid in hard currency too (farmers
used to paying taxes in labor)
farmers paying 1/3 of their income in taxes
Farmers want paper money and more money supply, inflation
Veterans have not been paid.
Shays resigned after fighting, went home without his pay and was hit for not paying debts.
farm foreclosures are happening; also imprisonment for debt
Some states print paper money, Mass legislature against paper money and trying to pay back war
debts at face value

Constitutional Convention: disputes and resolutions

The debate about ratification

How did different beliefs about liberty and the proper role of
the national government influence the debate over ratification
of the Constitution? (causation)

Federalists Anti-Federalists
Hamilton, Madison, Jay: Federalist Various editorials
papers

Fears: anarchy, mobocracy, more Fears: tyrannical president, natl govt,

Shaysites, maybe a redistribution of elites, standing armies
wealth (!?)
1780s: ARE a crisis, Republic is in danger 1780s: NOT a crisis, healthy debate

Checks and balances are “perfect” (btw The central govt is “unchecked”
branches and btw federal and state govts) Presidents could keep running
Strong federal govt = strong country No Bill of Rights!!!

Majority rule is dangerous...people could

rush into things that aren’t good for the
country